Softball Infield Drills – WORM AND TURN DRILL

Purpose: Teach the second baseman the footwork needed for turning a double play when the ball is hit deep in the hole to the shortstop. Coaching softball entails teaching everything there is to know on the field and it is important to take time to practice learned skill.
Procedure: this drill is located in the infield around second base. prepare a crate of softballs, a base. Coach hits the ball in the hole between the shortstop and second base using a fungo bat. The shortstop should move to field the batted ball and make the throw to second base . The second baseman should move to cover second base, timing her arrival at second base so that she gets to the base at the same moment the ball arrives on the throw from the shortstop. The second baseman should turn the double play using the proper sequence of the footwork. Her left foot touches the bag, her right foot steps backward in the dirt, her left foot is on the dirt on the rightfield side of second base. The second baseman should hold her hands open at chest level, forming an angle with his palms facing the ball and his fingers pointing to the sky. The second baseman should receive the throw at the back point of the base. After receiving the throw from the shortstop, the second baseman should then simulate the throw to first base and hop over an imaginary player who is sliding to second base.

The second baseman should exhibit “happv feet” (i.e., feet continually moving in place in a short choppy manner), as she receives the throw and completes the double play. When the balI hits his glove, the second baseman should use the middle finger of her glove hand to push the ball out of her glove. This step results in the ball quickly popping out to the throwing hand. The second baseman’s throwing hand should always be held in a position to catch the ball once it is forced out of the glove. When completing the footwork of the double play the second baseman should point her left foot toward first to set open her hips.